| If you do not see graphics, click here»» | December 2005 |
| Christmas Cards from the Past | Christmas cards date back to England in the 1840s and surfaced in America around 1870. The earliest cards depicted festive images with a more secular tone than religious. Cards became quite elaborate in the late 19th century and had features including multi-layer cut outs, tassels, fringes, and satin padding. The images we often associate with cards today - mangers, cattle, angels - also emerged at this time.  To celebrate this holiday season, we have created a display at the library, a sampling from the Society's collection. Come to Concord and take in the current exhibitions, enjoy these cards, and stop by the museum store. Give us a call at 603/228-6688 to schedule a time with Special Collections Librarian, David Smolen, to see all the cards. Happy Holidays and best wishes in 2006. Artwork by Tasha Tudor. Click on the image to enlarge. |
| A Document and What it Proves | |
| General John Stark, a Londonderry native, fought with Rogers' Rangers in the French and Indian War. A hero of the Revolutionary War, his signature victory was at the Battle of Bennington where he led his brigade to capture nearly the entire opposing British force. 
New Hampshire's motto, "Live Free or Die" was coined by Stark in a toast he proposed by letter in 1809 to commemorate the
Click on the image above to view the entire letter. |
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| General John Stark Returns | |
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The Society recently announced the creation of a General John Stark bobblehead doll, the first in a series honoring historic New Hampshire people. The display model has attracted great attention; surely, he'll become a collectible item. Advance orders for the general have been coming in steadily, sometimes hourly, from around the country – he'll eventually travel to places he never visited! This 7-inch version of Stark will arrive in Concord by the first of the new year. Those wishing to give the bobblehead as a holiday gift can request a clever "I'll see you soon" full-color gift card. We'll ship it anywhere you'd like in the lower forty-eight states. Order your John Stark now to receive the gift card or reserve one for yourself. |
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| Piecing History Together – Detail by Detail | |
Better documentation of the Society’s museum collections is an important part of our plan to increase accessibility by fully automating our records. A $150,000 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services has made this monumental undertaking possible. The team of professionals and volunteers is rediscovering the history of New Hampshire objects in the collections every day. They recently researched, photographed, and cataloged three late 18th-century side chairs. The Society acquired the first chair in 1975 from Deborah Brown, and two more chairs were donated in 1986 by Clifton G. Seavey. Research has revealed that the "Brown" chair and one of the "Seavey" chairs were purchased by Brown and Seavey's common ancestor, David Bachelder, at an auction of Meschech Weare's estate in Hampton Falls, N.H. Weare, a Revolutionary War patriot, jurist, and President of the State of New Hampshire died in 1786. The third chair was purchased by Mr. Seavey. It has no documented history connecting it to Meschech Weare but it was definitely made by the same craftsman. It's satisfying to know that each small mystery unraveled today provides a clearer view of our past for tomorrow. |
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| Major Acquisiton for Family Researchers | |
The Society recently purchased The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records – fifty volumes of marriage, birth, and death records from 129 towns. One of the last great genealogical manuscript collections in America to be published, this set covers the earliest records of each town through 1850. It rounds out our major collections of American genealogical reference material, which include about 400 volumes of the vital records of Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island; 150 volumes of The New England Historical and Genealogical Register; and 80 volumes of The American Genealogist, and many others. Sharp-eyed genealogists spied this addition before the books were even cataloged and put on the shelves. The Society's library, already a great place to do family research, is even better now thanks to this significant investment. The Society's store also offers a variety of handbooks and guides for family research, including the Genealogist's Handbook for New England Research. |
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| Subscription Information | |
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